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Time to change. But to what?

I've had my B&W N803 for a while now. Love them. But have a craving for a different type of sound.

I want speakers that play all kinds of music equally well. Excell at soundstaging, imaging, resolution, are NOT analytical, sound natural(this is very improtant...I hate artificial sound), and do the bass so you not only hear it but feel it as well.

I started building a list of potential candidates.
Here goes it:
1. B&W 803D
2. DALI Helicon 800MkII
3. DALI Euphonia MS4 or 5
4. Dynuadio S5.4
5. Sonus Faber Cremona

from the list I am familiar with S5.4, 803D and Cremona. I have never heard DALI speakers.

Room width is about 14 feet. Length is 18 feet. Speakers are on the short wall. Behind the speakers corners are treated with 8th Nerve Rectangles and Triangles, there is an area rug in front of speakers.

I listen to rock music, jazz(vocal and instrumental but dynamic stuff...no smooth jazz at all), acoustic music, solo, chamber and large orchestral classical(Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Bartok, Shoenberg, Shostakovich, etc). I would like the orchestra to be rendered as large and real as possible within the natural limitations of my room, system, listener.

I like to listen on realistic levels when I can, but since I have a 5 year old who goes to bed early, low level resolution is VERY IMPORTANT. I do a lot of late night listening at low levels and want to hear as much information out of the speakers as possible. My B&Ws excell at playing loud without strain. I want this quality to remain with the new speaker as well.

The speaker upgrade will most likely force me to use my Bel Canto DAC3 as a preamp for a while.

I am selling my BAT VK-51SE preamp right now to raise some funds for the speakers. Once I sell the preamp I plan to sell the B&Ws.

DAC3 isn't that bad direct into my Pass Labs X250.5 and I have a feeling I can deal with it for the time being.
No plans to change the amplifier, or anything else. Just the speakers.

What are my options?

Your advise is greatly appreciated.
128x128audphile1
newbee
4,767 posts
 
You might just like the Bolero's. They really fits snuggly into the description of the sound your are looking for. I have been extremely pleased with mine. I've had them a year now and have NO reservations whatsoever.

I use them in a 19x13x9 room and listen primarily to classical and jazz music. If you are seriously considering them and want a 'testimonial' e-mail me. BTW, although I'm sure you noticed, unlike other Silverlines, they have all Dynaudio drivers, including the Esotar tweeter, and they are voiced very differently than the other Silverlines.

FWIW.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Newbee--how would you characterize the principal differences in the voicing?
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Twoleftears - Check your mail.
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johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
A speaker that comes to my mind given your criteria is the Legacy Audio Whisper. It's physically imposing, but unlike most speakers that size, its free-air woofers function as dipoles, making it easy to place them closer to side walls. The woofers can also be amped and attenuated separately, so it is relatively easy to dial the speakers in to the room size and avoid bass overload.

Finally, the Whispers are aptly named if the multiple reviews are to be believed. The reviews consistently report that they are particularly good at low level detail and holding the musical presentation together at low volumes.

Stereophile review here.

Also, given your criteria for detail plus engaging musicality, the Sonus Faber Cremona is a must-listen. The SF's all have a very natural-sounding tonal balance, the antithesis of hyped-up "hi-fi."
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